Pinnacle’s Senior Manager, Andy McLarney, wrote a piece for Business Matters in this weeks Examiner.

Andy provided guidance on Online Accountancy Software.

Doing Business in the Digital Age – don’t let tradition cloud your judgement

Andy McLarney of Pinnacle says it’s time that businesses embrace the innovation of cloud accounting.

The days of running your business from your desk are disappearing. The way people do business is now much more mobile, with the requirements for flexibility and ease of access for all businesses increasing. However, out of habit many small businesses are still keeping manual accounting records and do not always consider other alternatives.

I’d always encourage clients to look positively on new technology. Once you embrace it, the chances are you’ll never look back. After all, we now take smartphones and tablets for granted, when they once seemed futuristic.

Ease of access is one of the many benefits of using cloud accounting. As the records are held online, it allows you to access your records anywhere, anytime. It also allows a number of users to access the information, whether they are employees, your book-keeper or your accountant, making worker together much easier and providing real time financial information that can aid your business decisions.

I know that some people may worry about sensitive information or banking details being accessible online, but all data is encrypted to the same standard as online banking.

Increasingly cloud accounting is being changed by artificial intelligence too. With machine learning, the software is able to look at patterns and anticipate where particular expenses should be allocated. You still have the ability to check the decisions, but a lot of the hard work is taken out of your hands.

At Pinnacle we can recommend particular cloud accounting software and even provide you with some training to get you started. You’ll then be able to access your information anywhere, at any time – particularly useful if you need to make timely decisions or need to send a quote immediately on-site. Meanwhile, as your accountant, we can access the data in real time and provide you with more up-to-date advice and guidance.

So my message is not to be frightened. There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain.

So how do you get started? It’s easy! With no up-front costs or upgrades needed, just contact us and we can help you get set up and you can take advantage of our current, no strings attached offer of 6 months free on Quickbooks Online.